Five Career Options for Marketing Majors

HomeCareersFive Career Options for Marketing MajorsThis page may contain affiliate links.Oct 11, 2019Marketing is everywhere. Print, billboards, social media. Everywhere you look, someone is marketing to you. Maybe it’s made you think you want to get your degree in marketing because you’re a fan of those splashy advertisements and want to create them. Or maybe you want to work for one of the companies that does marketing research to target the consumers for those ads. Or maybe you’ve heard that a marketing degree is useful, but you’re not quite sure what your opportunities would be after you graduate. Whether you choose to concentrate in sports, internet, or business, majoring in marketing gives you an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of business, enhance your public speaking skills, and perfect your interpersonal skills. But once you start looking for a job, you might ask yourself: what exactly can you do with a marketing major? This article outlines the possible career paths and top jobs for someone who majors in marketing. Marketing Managers ($129,380 per year) Marketing managers estimate the demand for a company’s products and services, and research new potential markets. They also create marketing plans for new products and services and keep abreast of what competitors are doing. Since their work is directly tied to the company’s revenue, marketing managers often work with the company’s executives as well. This job is known for being relatively stressful and demanding, with sometimes unpredictable hours. While having a bachelor’s degree is essential, one usually becomes a manager after a few years of entry-level work. Public Relations Managers ($111,280 per year) If you’re an expert at crafting and controlling your personal brand, you might consider managing a company’s public relations. Public relations managers write press releases, help clients communicate with the public, and develop their client’s corporate image and identity. As a manager, your duties would also include supervising and overseeing other staff members. This job is known for its long, 40-plus hour work weeks. Usually a bachelor’s degree is sufficient, but some employers prefer a master’s degree. To take on this job, you must have several years of experience in public relations. If you want to get a leg up on the competition, you can work as a public relations intern during college. Market Research Analysts ($63,230 per year) If you love statistics and analyzing data, you might consider being a market research analyst. As an analyst, you should expect to monitor and forecast marketing and sales trends, measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and strategies, and well as gather and analyze data on consumers, competitors, and market conditions. This job is a perfect way to combine the hard, analytical skills and the soft, interpersonal skills that comprise the major. Many companies use market research, so you can choose to go into any industry that piques your interest. While most analysts are full-time workers during regular business hours, some face tight deadlines and schedules, which may require overtime. Marketing Coordinator ($60,273 per year) When assigned a group project, do you take the lead in assigning tasks and coordinating times for the group to meet? If so, you might want to become a marketing coordinator. Marketing coordinators handle the logistics of the marketing department, as well as the logistics of special promotions, product launches, and events for the company. This often includes managing the company’s social media. You’ll often find yourself coordinating logistics and communication across team lines, so be prepared to work with a lot of different people. This is usually the first step on the track to becoming a marketing manager. Insurance Sales Agents ($49,710 per year) Insurance agents sell people insurance so they’re protected in the event of an accident or emergency. While on the job, you should expect to call potential clients, explain the policies you’re selling, personalize insurance policies, and handle renewals. There are many potential avenues for this career. You can choose to specialize by coverage or sell a variety of policies. You can also choose between being a captive agent who sells policies for a single company, or an independent agent who sells policies for many different companies. You’ll probably work in an office, although there’s a chance you’ll travel to meet with clients. If this sounds like the ideal job, be sure to double down on the public speaking classes you take while in college. Being persuasive and taking initiative will help you as you progress on this path. Advertising Sales Agents ($49,680 per year) Like insurance sales agents, advertising sales agents are focused on selling something. This time, it’s advertising space. This is another job that requires strong interpersonal skills since you’ll be responsible for generating and maintaining client leads. You’ll also have to explain the different types of advertising products you’re selling in a clear and persuasive way. Also expect also to make presentations to potential new clients. If you thrive under pressure, this career path might be a match. You’ll usually have to fulfill monthly sales quotas and your income may be affected by how much you sell month to month. Most sales agents work a regular, full-time week, but some work on weekends and holidays. Now you know what career options you have if you major in marketing. Since it’s interdisciplinary by nature, there’s plenty of choices. And whether you choose the business side of marketing or a role that lets your interpersonal skills shine, a marketing degree is versatile enough to get your foot in the door almost anywhere. *All salaries taken from Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,Occupational Outlook Handbook, Human Resources Specialists, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/(visitedMarch 15, 2019).